Street 365

The Benefits Of Growing Up Abroad With Cecilie Mengel

Student, NYC

“I’m Cecilie Mengel, a cheese and peanut butter lover who currently lives in New York City as a graduate student. I was born and raised in Denmark (can’t fool anyone with my full-on Scandi genes). I lived in Germany as a kid, and have since lived in California and Sydney. Denmark is a (very) small, safe and beautiful place to call home, but having lived in different countries from a young age, I now know there’s more to life than Danish smørrebrød and hygge. I think my upbringing combined with my extrovert personality, may have triggered a huge curiosity in getting to know the world.” “Style is a way of expressing your personality. It’s about how you combine what’s in your closet—not about wearing the latest trend; that’s something everyone can do. Growing up, my mum gave me the freedom to dress however I wanted (even if it meant going to kindergarten in my princess costume). She supported me being myself and that’s made it easy for me to develop my personal style over the years. I rarely find myself in a style rut because I don’t have two things that look the same (80% of my clothes are vintage). I dress depending on my mood—some days I’ll be in all-black outfits and others in a colorful vintage dress. The 90s are always a vibe for me. Always wear pieces of jewellery that matter to you, it will turn out looking effortlessly cool. While I was packing for NYC, one of my best friends said: “I get why it’s so difficult for you to pack—nothing in your closet look alike!” [laughs]. So, I guess that’s a pretty good trick… don’t buy too many similar items and feel inspired!”